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About Endoscope Reprocessing Challenges

 

Today's medical practitioners rely on flexible endoscopes for a variety of diagnoses ranging from those involving colon-related illnesses to sinus ailments

While the use of these high-cost devices has become more routine, the cleaning and disinfection procedures involved with reprocessing the equipment can be challenging.

Endoscopes are heat-sensitive, electronic instruments used in internal body cavity examinations.
An endoscope's internal channels (or lumens) are used to shine light in the specific body cavity that is being examined.

One reason the use of the flexible endoscope has become increasingly common is because endoscopic tests represent a favourable alternative to surgical diagnostic methods.
However, to ensure endoscopes are available without delay, practitioners need an effective and efficient reprocessing method.

Endoscopes are high-cost devices, so they are reused by hospitals and medical centres.

Before reuse, the equipment must be safely reprocessed to eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious diseases among patients.

Endoscopes are generally difficult to clean and the harsh chemicals used for reprocessing need to be handled with care. A new standard for endoscope washer disinfectors, EN-ISO15883 part 4, will go into effect in 2006.

Transmittable illnesses such as NvCJD (New variant Creuzveld Jacobs Disease) commonly known as 'mad cow disease', have alerted health officials to the risks that are involved if endoscope devices are not properly processed.

The procedure is particularly challenging because the internal channels of the endoscope can become exposed to micro organisms that are often difficult to reach, especially during manual cleaning activities.

Since manual washing methods are often tedious and time-consuming, medical organizations have begun seeking out more effective alternatives , viz automated cleaning systems.

Advanced reprocessing systems are helping these medical organizations reduce nurses' exposure to chemicals while at the same time minimizing patient health risks that can result from improperly cleaned equipment.

They also expedite the endoscope reprocessing effort, which allows practitioners to avoid exam backlogs.

The increased reliance on automated equipment has, in turn, led to a greater urgency among suppliers of these washing and disinfecting systems to differentiate their product designs.

Endoscope reprocessing equipment generally requires several connections on the machine's inside as well as to the supply and drain lines.

One secret to the success of such systems is high-quality, reliable components such as quick disconnect couplings .These coupling products should provide a leak-free connection between internal endoscope channels and endoscope washing devices during the disinfection process.

Having a reliable coupling is just one aspect of a safe, overall system - albeit an important one.

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